Golf Channel parted ways with lead analyst. Here’s what we know

Golf Channel is parting ways with lead LPGA analyst Morgan Pressel. 

A report from Golfweek’s Beth Ann Nichols explained the reason for Pressel’s absence from this week’s Annika, the penultimate event of the LPGA season: her contract won’t be renewed for 2027.

Paige Mackenzie is in this week’s lead analyst chair alongside Grant Boone. Mackenzie is expected to be a consistent piece of the broadcast going forward, though Golf Channel may not immediately seek a one-for-one fill-in for Pressel’s spot. (Pressel declined comment when reached by Golfweek.)

Nichols notes that Mel Reid and Karen Stupoles are expected to play significant roles in next year’s broadcasts.

Where things remain murky is in the context of Pressel’s future with NBC. Because Golf Channel has now split from NBC, it’s plausible she could continue in one chair but not the other. Nichols learned that while Pressel won’t be on the call for Golf Channel, she will be in the NBC booth next Sunday, calling the final round of the CME Group Tour Championship.

When Pressel, 38, began work in her current role in 2021, she was still competing on the LPGA. Her playing career was remarkable from an early age; she qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open at 12, won 10 AJGA events and thrashed her opponent in the 2005 Women’s Am final, 9 and 8.

Pressel turned pro at 17 and began playing an LPGA schedule before graduating high school. In 2007 she won her first major at 18, which was a record at the time. She won just one more LPGA event but racked up 22 top-three finishes over the next decade and had a winning record across six Solheim Cup teams.

After dabbling in media further into her playing career, Pressel found her way to a bigger role at NBC and Golf Channel, where she eventually replaced the legendary Judy Rankin, who retired in 2022 at the age of 77.

Pressel could be in consideration for a future Solheim Cup captaincy; she has served as assistant twice.

The LPGA wraps up its season next week.